Aftershocks

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Two leading national security experts provide a definitive account of COVID-19's global impact and its political repercussions for the United States and the 21st-century world order. The pandemic resulted in millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of infections, exposing vulnerabilities and inequalities in our interconnected world. The economic fallout was the worst since the Great Depression, with the IMF estimating a loss of over $22 trillion in global wealth. Progress made in reducing extreme poverty over two decades was reversed in mere months, further destabilizing already fragile states. The tensions between the U.S. and China escalated, and the global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism intensified. This crisis demanded a collective international response, yet cooperation largely failed, with world leaders often at odds. The authors offer a riveting account of this unprecedented year, drawing on interviews with global officials and extensive research. They illustrate how nationalism and power rivalries hampered responses to the worst pandemic in a century, revealing the limitations of the existing international order and foreshadowing the long-lasting effects of COVID-19.